The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has directed Aschal Investment Limited, the contractor responsible for the 37-kilometre Wa–Bulenga Road, to immediately return to site and resume work on the delayed project.
The minister issued the directive during an inspection of the Wa–Bulenga–Yaala Road, where he expressed concern about the contractor’s failure to make meaningful progress on the project.
According to him, the government would not tolerate unnecessary delays in the execution of road projects that had already been awarded, particularly in situations where contractors fail to mobilise to site and honour their contractual obligations.
The Wa–Bulenga Road project was awarded to Aschal Investment Limited in 2024. However, the contractor has reportedly been absent from the site for more than a year, raising concerns about the deterioration of completed sections and the overall progress of the project.
Agbodza said the contractor must return to site without further delay and address defects identified in the work already undertaken.
He also stressed the need for contractors to ensure that projects meet the required standards and are delivered within the agreed timelines.
“Tell the contractor to come back to site immediately and remedy all those things. The thing is already failing. It is not rocket science, and you don’t have to be an engineer to know that what he has done will fail in no time, so call him back to site to address the issue immediately.
“We have no appetite for substandard work.”
The minister’s comments underline the government’s growing concerns over delays and poor-quality work on road projects across the country.
He indicated that contractors who receive government contracts must demonstrate the capacity and commitment required to complete their projects within the stipulated periods.
The Wa–Bulenga–Yaala corridor is considered an important road link in the Upper West Region, connecting communities and facilitating the movement of people, goods and services.
Residents and road users have repeatedly raised concerns about the condition of sections of the road and the slow pace of construction.
Agbodza’s directive is, therefore, expected to put pressure on Aschal Investment Limited to mobilise its equipment and workforce back to the project site.
The minister further emphasised that the government would continue to monitor road projects to ensure that public funds are used effectively and that contractors deliver quality infrastructure.
He warned that delays and substandard construction would not be accepted as the government intensifies efforts to improve the country’s road network.
